Donation of mitochondria and pronuclear transfer
It should be noted that the mitochondria is are one of the essential elements of any living cell, including the oocyte ; in other words, it is the energy station of the cell.
The mitochondrial donation procedure is performed in cases of female infertility caused by mitochondrial damage. It should be noted that this method makes it possible to avoid certain mitochondrial diseases in children. The process involves transferring healthy mitochondria from the egg of a donor to the egg of another woman who wants to become a mother. This unique method allows women whose DNA has been genetically altered to still have their children without the risk of transmitting hereditary diseases.
Pronuclear transfer: this is an innovative procedure that involves the fertilization of the mother’s and donor eggs with the father’s sperm. Before the fertilized eggs are divided, each nucleus is removed. The nucleus of the fertilized donor egg is removed and replaced with the nucleus of the mother’s fertilized egg producing a reconstructed embryo that contains the pronuclei of the presumed parent. As a result, the child has three DNAs, which is made up of genetic material from three individuals: from the mother, the father, and the female donor. Thanks to this innovative technology, the first child in the world, also called “child of three parents,” was born in Mexico in 2016. Mitochondrial donation and pronuclear transfer programs are increasingly practiced in different countries, Ukraine is no exception.